Hyundai i30 Fastback N 2019 pricing and specs revealed

The first ever Hyundai i30 Fastback N has arrived on sale in Australia, and it carries a small premium over its hatchback sibling.

The 2019 Hyundai i30 Fastback N is priced at $41,990 plus on-road costs, and as with the hatch model will be available with an additional luxury pack ($3000), or luxury pack with panoramic sunroof ($5000). 

The so-called ‘five-door coupe’ is only the second fully-fledged N model from Hyundai, and runs an identical powertrain to the i30 N hatch. 

That means there’s a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 202kW of power (at 6000rpm) and 353Nm of torque (378Nm on overboost - from 1450-4700rpm). It is only available with a six-speed manual transmission, and is front-wheel drive that features an electromechanical limited-slip diff. 

The 2.0-litre turboch engine makes 202kW/353Nm.

The Fastback N model rolls on a “new global chassis calibration” that Hyundai claims was honed on the Nurburgring to reward the driver with “controlled and comfortable” handling. According to the brand, the Fastback N has softer front suspension and reduced roll stiffness, apparently making it more comfortable but also more chuckable in corners. 

There are longer, softer bump-stops, the front anti-rollbar is narrower, and the dampers - including the adaptive tuning - are revised as well. There are Eco, Normal and Sport drive modes, as well as N mode with an ESC Sport setting, and a configurable N Custom mode. Plus there is launch control, an active variable exhaust system, rev matching and the N race computer.

The i30 Fastback N is marginally heavier (12kg) mainly at the rear, which affects the weight distribution - the company says the ratio is 59.7 per cent front and 40.3 per cent rear, where the hatch is 61.8/38.2.

Overall, the Fastback is 120mm longer (4455mm) and 28mm lower (1417mm) than the hatchback model, and has a better drag coefficient as well (0.297 Cd compared to the hatch’s 0.320 Cd measure).

As for standard equipment, the i30 Fastback N has 19-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli P-Zero HN tyres, LED daytime running lights, auto headlights, LED tail-lights, tyre pressure monitoring, a reversing camera, and a temporary space saver spare wheel. 

Inside there are alloy sports pedals, black headlining, red stitching (as opposed to blue in the hatch), sports front seats, a leather-appointed steering wheel, a 4.2-inch driver info screen, an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, USB connectivity and built-in sat nav. Further, you get dual-zone climate control, cruise control and manually adjustable sports cloth seats (driver’s with power lumbar adjust).

At the centre of the cabin is a 8.0-inch touchscreen.

The $3000 luxury pack adds front parking sensors, LED courtesy and puddle lamps, power folding side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, electric seat adjustment up front (driver’s with memory settings), leather and suede trim, auto-dimming rearview mirror, heated front seats and steering wheel, smart key entry and push-button start, rear tinted glass and Qi wireless phone charging. Add $2000 and you get a panoramic sunroof, too. 

Your safety is considered with auto emergency braking (AEB) with forward collision warning, driver attention alert and lane keeping assist (above 60km/h). The i30 Fastback N has seven airbags and stability control. There is no adaptive cruise control, nor is there pedestrian and cyclist detection. 

The i30 N hatch has seen a $500 price rise as part of the realignment of the brand’s line-up. Hyundai says the price increase is down to currency fluctuations.

Hyundai i30 N list pricing (plus on-road costs):

Would you spend more money for the Fastback version of the Hyundai i30 N? Tell us in the comments section below.